[Infographic] Evolution of the Batmobile

Batman TV Series. 1966-68

The Batmobile first appeared in the television series starring Adam West. The base car was a Lincoln Futura and was customized by celebrated automotive designer George Barris. The most iconic Batmobile set a world record on January 19, 2013, when it sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction for USD$4.2 million.

Futura was a concept car built in Turin, Italy, for $250,000.

George Barris bought the Futura from Ford for $1.

Three fiberglass copies were made from a mold of Batmobile #1.

Oil slick sprayers were made from garden sprinklers.

Batmobile Specs:

Curb weight: 5500 lb

Wheelbase: 129 in

Length: 230 in

Width: 90 in

Height: 48 in

Fins: 84 in

Engine: 390 in³, V-8 (atomic turbine)

Transmission: B&M Hydro Automatic (2nd transmission)

Batman. 1989

In Tim Burton’s movie starring Michael Keaton, Batman returned to the big screen for the first time since 1966. The Batmobile was created with combination of aggression and classic design aesthetics of the 1930s. This matt-black weapon was notable for its front-mounted turbine front and simple, yet potent gadgets. To build this Batmobile, the production team spliced together two Impala chassis’ and inserted a Chevy V8 powerplant.

Exhaust afterburner ran for 15 seconds due to fuel limitation.

Hand-sculpted rear fins are slightly “off” from each other.

The rear end starts to wobble at 90MPH.

Batman Forever. 1995

In Joel Schumacher’s first iteration of the caped crusader, the Batmobile was designed by Barbara Ling, who wanted the vehicle to have a more organic aesthetic. Her creation appeared to have ribs and wings and the engine panels, wheels, and undercarriage glowed blue. This Batmobile was destroyed partway through Batman Forever when The Riddler deposited a sack full of explosives in the cockpit.

Val Kilmer’s Batmobile is powered by a 25-gallon propane tank.

Modified Chevy 350 ZZ3 high-performance motor.

Body made from a high-temperature epoxy fiberglass laminate.

Engine can shoot a 25-foot flame from the rear exhaust.

Batman and Robin. 1997

Schumacher’s second Batman film starred George Clooney and another Ling-designed Batmobile, this time inspired by racing roadsters such as the Jaguar D Type and Delahaye 165. Ling created an open air car, true to the comics of yesteryear. The new Batmobile was about 30 feet long – one of the longest Batmobiles in the entire history of the car.

Engine: Chevy 350 ZZ3 (off-road racing motor). Instead of a single jet exhaust, this Batmobile had a “boattail” rear flanked by separate fenders, each with three smaller exhaust nozzles.

Batman Begins. 2005

Affectionately known as “The Tumbler”, the Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale-era Batmobile was Designed by Crowley & Nolan, whose primary focus was to make this vehicle as real-looking as possible. It weighed 2.5 tons but could still top 0-60mph in less than six seconds. It had a top speed of 110mph and could also make unassisted jumps of up to 30 feet. The 500-HP Chevy 350 V8 engine turned four 44″ Super Swamper tires. The Tumbler reappeared in The Dark Knight with new modes such as “Loiter” and “Intimidate”.

Hybrid of a Lamborghini and Humvee.

Made of fiberglass – would barely stop hail, let alone a bullet.

Six were made, four remain.

Tumblers were capable and no CGI was used for stunts.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice 2016

Ben Affleck will don the armored suit for the Zack Snyder-directed release. As with Batman Begins, one of the first sneak-peek images released from the movie to the public was of the Batmobile. The latest version borrows styling cues from several previous Batmobile incarnations. It has a similar side-profile and split clamshell canopy to the Burton and Schumacher-era Batmobiles, with Tumbler-style knobbly tires and aero flaps. There is also a front-mounted double-barrel gun turret for good measure.

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Copyright 2019 Endurance Warranty Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Toll free: 866-918-1438 Disclosure: A Vehicle Service Contract (VSC) is often referred to as an "auto warranty" or an "extended car warranty," but it is not a warranty. A VSC does, however, provide repair coverage for your vehicle after the manufacturer’s car warranty expires. A VSC is a contract between you and a VSC provider or administrator that states what is a covered repair and what is not.